I've realised how unenthusiastic I've been in thanking all you lovely
reviewers, so today I'm going to make that right. I checked my emails today
and found a VAST number of reviews, and spent half an hour with a massive
grin on my face. It's so great to be appreciated! So to everyone who
reviews my story (well, actually it's mine and Katrina's) THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH!!
***
A Hard Man To Predict
It is the time of day when sunset is slowly turning into twilight. Both ships are anchored by a small rocky islet. Close enough to keep an eye on each other, but far enough to be out of cannon range. Matthew is sitting in the crow's nest, listlessly watching the Hawk, when he notices something odd. He peers through the telescope, and sees that yes, the Hawk is sending out a boat. Just one boat, with just one passenger. He scrambles down the rigging to tell the crew.
Ten minutes later, he hammers on the door of Jack's cabin.
'Captain, you're needed on deck. It's urgent.'
Once on deck, Matthew tries to explain what the person in the boat has shouted to them from the position halfway between the two ships.
'They want to discuss Phoenix's return, but they want you to go out unarmed to negotiate.' He tries to hide the agitation in his voice, but fails.
'Lower a boat,' Jack orders.
He takes off enough weaponry to equip a small army, and hands it all to Matthew who totters slightly under the weight. Wordlessly, and ignoring his crew's muttered misgivings, he jumps into the rowboat and goes to meet the Hawk's representative.
He knows who it is; he knew when he saw Phoenix laid at her feet during the battle. Jack is at a loss to know why she would be working for Santos, but he intends to find out. As his boat draws closer to hers, he looks over his shoulder, straight at her. A rush of memories hits him like a fist in the stomach. The day they met when he stole her ship, meeting her again on the pier in Tortuga, too many drinks in a dingy bar in Havana years later, a beach under the stars, a thousand nights in his cabin listening to her breath while she slept...
The two boats are alongside now. It feels like they're alone, but he knows they are being watched from both ships.
'Ana...'
At this moment, she wants nothing more that to break down and tell him everything, but James's life is at stake. Better this man, this pirate, than her innocent child.
He tone is deliberately cold. 'If you wish to see your daughter alive again, then you will hand over command of your ship to Captain Santos. You have twenty-four hours to decide, after which your daughter will be bound hands and feet and given to the sea. That's all.'
'Ana, love, what is this? Why did you disappear? Are you working for Santos?'
'I haven't been your love for at least four years Jack, and you're too curious for your own good. Just do as he says. She's got potential, your girl. She could be great.'
'Then get her back to me.'
'I can't. I'm sorry. I'll be back this time tomorrow– I know you'll make the right decision.'
As she rows back, keeping her eyes on Jack, she feels the hot tears of shame and hurt on her cheeks. Hurriedly, she wipes then away. If Santos were to question her loyalty it would be fatal. Knowing that she has just signed both this man and his daughter's death warrant is almost more than she can bear, but the life of her son is more important. Their deaths, she tells herself, are a necessary evil.
Matthew's reaction to the terms of Phoenix's return is much more violent that Jack could ever have predicted. Secretly he had always thought the lad rather spineless, but it seems that the threat of harm to Phoenix has brought out the fire in him.
'We need to launch an attack. Under cover of night perhaps. We could just seize the ship with barely anyone awake!'
Such a shame, though, that the boy doesn't know who he's dealing with.
'Son,' Jack explains calmly, 'Santos will have someone with her at all times. If we so much as budge an inch, she will be killed instantly. It was a good plan, but unfortunately it would not be at all healthy for your woman.'
Matthew blushes at this, but says nothing, and the two lapse into a rum- soaked silence – Jack drinking the stuff as if it was water, Matthew sipping it and simply wishing that it was.
------
Santos is waiting for her, standing in the middle of his cabin. He says nothing, simply stands in front of her, too close for comfort, scrutinising her face. She shudders inwardly, wondering if he can see right into her head and see the writhing worm of hatred hidden there.
James is curled up on the floor, sucking his thumb. He is almost asleep, but not quite. She can at least be thankful that Santos didn't kill him while she was gone.
Santos finishes his minute examination of her features, and she can see from the look in his eyes what's going to happen now. He has seen something he doesn't like, maybe the too-bright eyes that tears have fallen from so recently.
She doesn't flinch, but even though she is expecting it the blow still knocks her to the floor, with the thump of his fist reverberating along her jawbone. Anamaria looks up at him from her prone position, defiance radiating from her. Another smash to her head doesn't diminish it, and Santos gets angrier.
'Don't think I don't know about you,' Santos hisses. 'I know, you whore, I know everything.'
Anamaria's mind races. What can he know?
'I know you love him; I know every damn night you wish I was him. I'd kill you now if I didn't want to see him know about your betrayal.'
Her eyes flicker protectively over her son – please let him be spared from this sight. But James is watching, open mouthed, with the makings of a crying fit brewing in him.
Santos notices her glance.
'You don't care what happens to you, Ana. You're tough, you're strong. But look at him, so innocent and so trusting. So easily broken...'
She watches in horror as he approaches her son. She gets to her feet, ready to kill him or die in the attempt if he hurts James. But all his does is gently run his hand over the boy's black hair.
'Remember, Ana, how easily he could be broken. Remember that. Now take your stinking brat and get the hell out of my sight.'
As fast as she dares, Anamaria gets out of the door with James in her arms and her jaw still throbbing from the unexpected blow. She takes James down to his den, where he sleeps on a pile of blankets under the guard of one of Santos's mercenaries. At the first sign of disobedience from her, then James's life is taken by the creature who watches over him. Simple.
Afterwards, Anamaria wanders, hardly knowing where she's going. By strange chance, her feet trace the path down to the room where Phoenix is being held. She stops outside the door, and touches her jawbone gingerly. It pounds under her touch, and she winces. She thinks about her son, asleep on his blankets, and the degenerate monster on whom his fate rests.
Anamaria considers the girl on the other side of the door, the girl with the sea in her blood and fire in her heart. If Phoenix knew the truth, all of the truth, then maybe Anamaria could save her son and wreak revenge on Santos. All she needs is the right leverage...
***
Yet another cliff hanger! I bet some of you can see what's coming...but you're wrong. Mwahahahaha!
***
A Hard Man To Predict
It is the time of day when sunset is slowly turning into twilight. Both ships are anchored by a small rocky islet. Close enough to keep an eye on each other, but far enough to be out of cannon range. Matthew is sitting in the crow's nest, listlessly watching the Hawk, when he notices something odd. He peers through the telescope, and sees that yes, the Hawk is sending out a boat. Just one boat, with just one passenger. He scrambles down the rigging to tell the crew.
Ten minutes later, he hammers on the door of Jack's cabin.
'Captain, you're needed on deck. It's urgent.'
Once on deck, Matthew tries to explain what the person in the boat has shouted to them from the position halfway between the two ships.
'They want to discuss Phoenix's return, but they want you to go out unarmed to negotiate.' He tries to hide the agitation in his voice, but fails.
'Lower a boat,' Jack orders.
He takes off enough weaponry to equip a small army, and hands it all to Matthew who totters slightly under the weight. Wordlessly, and ignoring his crew's muttered misgivings, he jumps into the rowboat and goes to meet the Hawk's representative.
He knows who it is; he knew when he saw Phoenix laid at her feet during the battle. Jack is at a loss to know why she would be working for Santos, but he intends to find out. As his boat draws closer to hers, he looks over his shoulder, straight at her. A rush of memories hits him like a fist in the stomach. The day they met when he stole her ship, meeting her again on the pier in Tortuga, too many drinks in a dingy bar in Havana years later, a beach under the stars, a thousand nights in his cabin listening to her breath while she slept...
The two boats are alongside now. It feels like they're alone, but he knows they are being watched from both ships.
'Ana...'
At this moment, she wants nothing more that to break down and tell him everything, but James's life is at stake. Better this man, this pirate, than her innocent child.
He tone is deliberately cold. 'If you wish to see your daughter alive again, then you will hand over command of your ship to Captain Santos. You have twenty-four hours to decide, after which your daughter will be bound hands and feet and given to the sea. That's all.'
'Ana, love, what is this? Why did you disappear? Are you working for Santos?'
'I haven't been your love for at least four years Jack, and you're too curious for your own good. Just do as he says. She's got potential, your girl. She could be great.'
'Then get her back to me.'
'I can't. I'm sorry. I'll be back this time tomorrow– I know you'll make the right decision.'
As she rows back, keeping her eyes on Jack, she feels the hot tears of shame and hurt on her cheeks. Hurriedly, she wipes then away. If Santos were to question her loyalty it would be fatal. Knowing that she has just signed both this man and his daughter's death warrant is almost more than she can bear, but the life of her son is more important. Their deaths, she tells herself, are a necessary evil.
Matthew's reaction to the terms of Phoenix's return is much more violent that Jack could ever have predicted. Secretly he had always thought the lad rather spineless, but it seems that the threat of harm to Phoenix has brought out the fire in him.
'We need to launch an attack. Under cover of night perhaps. We could just seize the ship with barely anyone awake!'
Such a shame, though, that the boy doesn't know who he's dealing with.
'Son,' Jack explains calmly, 'Santos will have someone with her at all times. If we so much as budge an inch, she will be killed instantly. It was a good plan, but unfortunately it would not be at all healthy for your woman.'
Matthew blushes at this, but says nothing, and the two lapse into a rum- soaked silence – Jack drinking the stuff as if it was water, Matthew sipping it and simply wishing that it was.
------
Santos is waiting for her, standing in the middle of his cabin. He says nothing, simply stands in front of her, too close for comfort, scrutinising her face. She shudders inwardly, wondering if he can see right into her head and see the writhing worm of hatred hidden there.
James is curled up on the floor, sucking his thumb. He is almost asleep, but not quite. She can at least be thankful that Santos didn't kill him while she was gone.
Santos finishes his minute examination of her features, and she can see from the look in his eyes what's going to happen now. He has seen something he doesn't like, maybe the too-bright eyes that tears have fallen from so recently.
She doesn't flinch, but even though she is expecting it the blow still knocks her to the floor, with the thump of his fist reverberating along her jawbone. Anamaria looks up at him from her prone position, defiance radiating from her. Another smash to her head doesn't diminish it, and Santos gets angrier.
'Don't think I don't know about you,' Santos hisses. 'I know, you whore, I know everything.'
Anamaria's mind races. What can he know?
'I know you love him; I know every damn night you wish I was him. I'd kill you now if I didn't want to see him know about your betrayal.'
Her eyes flicker protectively over her son – please let him be spared from this sight. But James is watching, open mouthed, with the makings of a crying fit brewing in him.
Santos notices her glance.
'You don't care what happens to you, Ana. You're tough, you're strong. But look at him, so innocent and so trusting. So easily broken...'
She watches in horror as he approaches her son. She gets to her feet, ready to kill him or die in the attempt if he hurts James. But all his does is gently run his hand over the boy's black hair.
'Remember, Ana, how easily he could be broken. Remember that. Now take your stinking brat and get the hell out of my sight.'
As fast as she dares, Anamaria gets out of the door with James in her arms and her jaw still throbbing from the unexpected blow. She takes James down to his den, where he sleeps on a pile of blankets under the guard of one of Santos's mercenaries. At the first sign of disobedience from her, then James's life is taken by the creature who watches over him. Simple.
Afterwards, Anamaria wanders, hardly knowing where she's going. By strange chance, her feet trace the path down to the room where Phoenix is being held. She stops outside the door, and touches her jawbone gingerly. It pounds under her touch, and she winces. She thinks about her son, asleep on his blankets, and the degenerate monster on whom his fate rests.
Anamaria considers the girl on the other side of the door, the girl with the sea in her blood and fire in her heart. If Phoenix knew the truth, all of the truth, then maybe Anamaria could save her son and wreak revenge on Santos. All she needs is the right leverage...
***
Yet another cliff hanger! I bet some of you can see what's coming...but you're wrong. Mwahahahaha!
